Impaired clearance of herpes simplex virus type 1 from mice lacking CD1d or NKT cells expressing the semivariant Vα14-Jα281 TCR

Ag-presenting molecule CD1 and CD1-restricted NKT cells are known to contribute to defense against a range of infectious pathogens, including some viruses. CD1-restrieted NKT cells, a distinct subpopulation of T cells, have striking and rapid effector functions that contribute to host defense, including rapid production of IFN-gamma and IL-4, and activation of NK cells. Consideration of the important contributions of innate and adaptive immunity to clearance of HSV prompted us to investigate the role of CD1 and of NKT cells expressing the Valpha14-Jalpha281 TCR in the pathogenesis of HSV infection. To address this issue, we compared infection in wild-type mice with that in CD1 gene knockout (GKO) and Jalpha281 GKO mice. In this study, we report impaired clearance of virus and viral Ags, and more florid acute infection in mice lacking CD1 (and by inference, CD1-restrieted T cells), in comparison with parental C57BL6 mice. In Ja281 GKO mice there was also impairment of virus clearance, resembling that seen in CD1 GKO mice. These results imply roles for the Valpha14-Jalpha281 subset of NKT cells and for CD1d in control of HSV infection.